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      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeMay 10th 2012
     
    Posted By: CWattersFinding hot box tests might be enough?

    So does that mean multifoil can or can't be used :wink:
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      CommentAuthorjoe90
    • CommentTimeMay 10th 2012
     
    We are not all bashing LA inspectors, just me. Perhaps I have been unlucky but I find so much lack of consistency from one officer to the next in the same office that I have no faith in what they will say next.

    Regarding strawbale I have been on two builds of this type, one was lucky that a LA inspector was willing to eccept straw and openminded enough to consider alternative materials, the other had to go to a private inspector as the LA would not even consider it.
    • CommentAuthorJTGreen
    • CommentTimeMay 11th 2012
     
    I'm not necessarily against BCOs requiring third party certification.

    What I'm against is that this is applied inconsistently. I have not been asked about the certification of the PUR insulation, presumably because the BCO is familiar with it. So, at the BCOs whim, the onus is placed on the client (who has paid the BCO for their services) to do the leg work of tracking down those certificate numbers for whatever products the BCO sees fit. I have another full-time job that involves 12.5 hour shifts in a hospital and have handed over a not insignificant sum to the council for the BCO services.

    Yes, manufacturers should make this easier by highlighting their third party certificates and making their technical data easily accessible - and I do think enviroform solutions are at fault in this respect (they hide their technical data behind a page you need to register for to log in). But the BCO is also at fault because he's unfamiliar with fantastic new technologies (i.e. google) which would probably satisfied him as to the material qualities of aerogel.

    How can BCOs support builders and householders in making homes more energy efficient if they aren't even familiar with the energy savings trust table of insulating materials?
    • CommentAuthorJTGreen
    • CommentTimeMay 11th 2012
     
    Haven't had a chance yet, but I will. And Enviroform have now supplied the technical data etc...to the BCO. I think it will pass on that basis.

    It's not that I think BCOs should recommend a product, but that for the average amateur it is very difficult to satisfy the BCO demands in an efficient way when they are made in an inconsistent fashion (i.e. for some products and not others) and when the BCO is completely unfamiliar with products.

    Also, I note that certifications (of a baffling variety) are amongst the ways in which compliance may be shown, but from the wording it doesn't seem that they are the only way ("these include"). As such, third party certification is simply a convenient mechanism for the BCO to avoid having to evaluate product claims themselves.
  1.  
    Enviroform have now supplied the technical data etc...to the BCO. I think it will pass on that basis.


    Excellent! I do hope so.
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      CommentAuthorDamonHD
    • CommentTimeMay 11th 2012
     
    Me three. Please confirm if so.

    Rgds

    Damon
    • CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2012
     
    Posted By: joe90Regarding strawbale I have been on two builds of this type, one was lucky that a LA inspector was willing to eccept straw and openminded enough to consider alternative materials, the other had to go to a private inspector as the LA would not even consider it.

    A private inspector will be my first choice, rather than just because the LA wouldn't consider it (in my case I believe they would). Cost and structural warranty considerations are also involved.

    Strawbales don't have BBA certs, but they do have German, Austrian, Danish et al certificates for thermal properties and fire resistance. So they're not too far out there.
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2012
     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: djh</cite>Strawbales don't have BBA certs, but they do have German, Austrian, Danish et al certificates for thermal properties and fire resistance. So they're not too far out there.</blockquote>

    and these days I suspect German certificates should be valid here (see my post on page 1 of the thread).
    • CommentAuthorJTGreen
    • CommentTimeSep 20th 2012
     
    We are now approved, insulation wise. Thanks guys - for helpful information, and moral support. Just the drain test left to do and that's it.
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